Scaling Heterogeneous Databases and the Design of Disco

Access to large numbers of data sources introduces new problems for users of heterogeneous distributed databases. End users and application programmers must deal with unavailable data sources. Database administrators must deal with incorporating new sources into the model. Database implementors must deal with the translation of queries between query languages and schemas. The Distributed Information Search COmponent (Disco) 1 addresses these problems. Query processing semantics are developed to process queries over data sources which do not return answers. Data modeling techniques manage connections to data sources. The component interface to data sources flexibly handles different query languages and translates queries. This paper describes (a) the distributed mediator architecture ofDisco, (b) its query processing semantics, (c) the data model and its modeling of data source connections, and (d) the interface to underlying data sources. 1

Mitochondrial dysfunction and the metabolism - studies on respiratory chain disorders

Background: Mutations of the mitochondrial assembly factor BCS1L disrupt assembly and function of the respiratory chain complex III (CIII) and thereby result in energy deprivation. In GRACILE syndrome, the BCS1L mutation causes a liver disorder that leads to metabolic disturbances associated with severe growth restriction.Objectives: To clarify the mechanisms and affected metabolic pathways in the CIII deficiency disease progression and perform intervention trials in an experimental disease model. Methods/research questions: A knock-in mouse model, carrying the same missense mutation (Bcs1l c.232A>G) as the GRACILE syndrome patients, is used to study disease mechanisms and pathways involved. Two randomized controlled intervention studies have been performed on homozygous mice and littermate controls: a 4-hour fasting as a metabolic pressure to assess the compensatory capabilities, and a dietary intervention to clarify whether hypoglycemia and survival can be improved by the high-carbohydrate diet (60% dextrose). Further, phenotyping and the disease mechanism in a patient with a novel compound heterozygous BCS1L mutation have been studied and compared to GRACILE patients and mutant mice. In the last study, a metabolic phenotype caused by a single large-scale deletion (SLSD) in mitochondrial (mtDNA), including the genes for structural components of CI and CIII, was analyzed.Methods used in the studies include genetic analysis,WES, WGS, phenotyping, blood and urine chemistry, metabolomics, histopathology, EM, function, and expression analysis. Conventional statistics and linear mixed-effect models (MEMs) were used for the analysis of the metabolic network response to fasting.Results: Fasting mutant animals revealed intact systemic lipid mobilization but disrupted compensatory mechanisms leading to hypoglycemia. The high-carbohydrate diet had an unexpected adverse effect on survival compared to the standard diet. The novel BSC1L mutation had a different phenotype compared to GRACILE syndrome. The patient with the SLSD had a complex metabolic phenotype, which emphasized the importance of diagnostics synergy of clinical awareness, genetic and funtional analysis. Significance: By elucidating metabolic disturbances, the project increases understanding of pathophysiology in CIII deficiency. This has a potential effect on understanding other, more common mitochondrial dysfunctions and raises new queries about this complex system

Management implications of moving from a traditional structured systems development methodology to object-orientation

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2003As software application systems become larger and more complex, many software employers and managers believe that the key to sustaining its competitive advantage in the computing technology market lies in its software engineering capabilities. Software crisis situation seems to be a common occurrence in the software development environment as systems become larger and more complex. Object Orientation (OO) has been proposed as a viable alternative to traditional approach (i.e., structured techniques), an approach that many hope will solve the current software crisis. 00 is a new paradigm, and it requires new types of knowledge, new specialists, and significant changes in the mindset, an entirely different way of thinking, representing and solving a problem. The transition of moving toward the 00 from the traditional approach may involve a high risk of failure if the managers do not understand the nature of paradigm shifts and do not anticipate the future. The problem of moving to 00 has become very important. An understanding of potential problems from migrating to the new paradigm helps managers make a smoother paradigm shift. The implications and challenges of the 00 paradigm are presented. The study suggests that Object-Oriented System Development (OOSD) requires more discipline, management and training than traditional software development does. Education and experience are keys for the success of any OOSD project

Twisted Galois stratification

We prove a direct image theorem stating that the direct image of a Galois formula by a morphism of difference schemes is equivalent to a Galois formula over fields with powers of Frobenius. As a consequence, we obtain an effective quantifier elimination procedure and a precise algebraic-geometric description of definable sets over fields with Frobenii in terms of twisted Galois formulae associated with finite Galois covers of difference schemes

Mill Redevelopment Toolkit

Not long ago, mills were the centerpieces and economic engine of many communities throughout New England. With the departure of the manufacturing industry, many of these structures and complexes fell into vacancy and blight, with many being demolished outright. The town of Ludlow, MA is an example of a smaller mill community that was impacted by the closure of its mill. It resulted in the decline and eventual stagnation of population and economic growth. Large unused buildings may bring sorrow to the residents who once worked the floors and machines, but they can also offer opportunity. Through the effective adaptive reuse of mill buildings, they can be revitalized, bringing new economic possibilities to the community and preserving the industrial history that many residents are connected with. This approach, while appealing, comes with its own set of challenges and requires careful consideration of various factors in order to be successful. Over the last 15 years the Ludlow Mills complex has seen redevelopment efforts that show visible improvement to the site and surrounding area, with further development efforts currently underway. Drawing from previous successful revitalization case studies and from the in-progress redevelopment in Ludlow, this project will generate 25 factors that could be considered in the revitalization and combined into a toolkit for developers. By providing fiscal, economic, social, and practical reasoning for mill revitalization, this project aims to provide a first version of a template in which a successful revitalization can be done, and which can later be improved upon

Something Moves: Affect in Saidiya Hartman’s Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments and Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martínez’ Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts

Bridging the theoretical with the personal, autotheory is by nature a genre that exists between categories. This paper argues that it is this very in-between-ness of autotheory which enables an expression and circulation of affect. My analysis of Saidiya Hartman’s Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments and Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martínez’ Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts showcases how the artistic expression of theoretical thought enabled by works of autotheory is particularly successful at making the personal stories that are being portrayed palpable. To make this case, the article first discusses theories of affect studies, autotheory and comic studies and brings them into conversation with each other. Afterwards, the results of this theoretical discussion are employed to analyze the role of affect in Wake and Wayward Lives